New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP017’

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having deep rose flowers, a compact growth habit, and strong root system is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP017’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida, and referredto by the variety name ‘SAKIMP017’. ‘SAKIMP017’ originated from aninterspecific hybridization between the female Impatiens plant ‘NC-177

’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breeding line with a brightorange flower color and compact plant growth habit, and the maleImpatiens plant, ‘NC-229B’, an unpatented proprietary Impatiens breedingline with a magenta flower color and vigorous plant growth habit, inMisato, Japan.

In January 2003, the female parent line ‘NC-177

’ and male parent line ‘NC-229B’ were crossed and a population of F₁plants was created. The new variety was first propagated via vegetativecuttings in Salinas, Calif. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedlyby vegetative cuttings. The F₁ plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan inan open field trial. The criteria for plant selection included abeautiful deep rose flower color, strong root system and compact plantgrowth habit. At the completion of the trial, one single-plant selectionwas made based on the above criteria and vegetatively propagated. FromMay to August 2006, the selection was evaluated in an open field inMisato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of the variety were then shipped toSalinas, Calif., where the plants were regenerated and reevaluated forstability of traits. The selection subsequently was named ‘SAKIMP017’and found to have its unique characteristics reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Deep rose flowers;    -   2. Compact growth habit; and    -   3. Strong root system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliageof the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plantsthat are 4 months from propagation by terminal cutting in Salinas,Calif., under greenhouse conditions.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature inflorescence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKIMP017’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. The plant history was taken on plants grown for about3.5 months from propagation by terminal cuttings under greenhouseconditions. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition(2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary ofBotanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens×hybrid var. ‘SAKIMP017’.        -   Common name.—Impatiens.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘NC-177            ’, an unpatented proprietary bright orange-flowered            Impatiens plant.        -   Male parent.—‘NC-229B’, an unpatented proprietary            magenta-flowered Impatiens plant.-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—The terminal 1.0 to 1.5            inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.            The base of each cutting was dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of Dip 'N Grow (1 solution: 9 water) root            inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed.        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—Rooted cuttings            were transplanted and grown in 6-inch plastic pots in a            glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a            peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer            containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium            was applied once a day or every other day by overhead            irrigation. Plants were fertilized every 2-3 days, 2 times            in consecutive applications and then given one clear water            application. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release            fertilizer containing 14% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 14%            potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Compact.        -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Height.—19.0 cm to 20.0 cm from soil line to top of foliage.        -   Spread.—37.0 cm to 38.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature            is above 5° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants have been observed to            continuously flower at a temperature range of 5° C. to 36°            C.; plants can withstand high heat and humidity.-   Branches:    -   -   Number.—3 main branches.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm from soil line to first node;            approximately 2.0 cm from first node to second node;            approximately 10.0 cm to 12.0 cm total.        -   Diameter (main branch).—0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 187B (Greyed-Purple).-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—8.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Internode length.—5.0 cm.        -   Color.—Closest to RHS 187B (Greyed-Purple).        -   Stem description.—Strong; circular cross-section, smooth and            shiny.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Anthocyanin color.—Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite            if only two leaves at one node.        -   Length.—8.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.        -   Margin.—Ciliate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Texture.—Dull; waxy.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Closest to RHS N189A (Greyed-Green).            Lower surface: RHS 189A (Greyed-Green) with RHS 187C            (Greyed-Purple) blotches and veins.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Pubescence.—Glabrous.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 187D (Greyed-Purple).            Lower surface: RHS 187C (Greyed-purple).        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS 187D            (Greyed-Purple). Texture: Smooth, glabrous.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Deltoid, longitudinal cross-section.        -   Length.—2.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 58B (Red-Purple).        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Will flower as long as the temperature is            above 5° C.        -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom; about 4 to 6            flower buds per node.        -   Number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 65 in bloom.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—4.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.20 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 59D (Red-Purple).        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.0 cm.        -   Depth.—0.2 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Shape.—Obcordate.        -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Emarginate (cleaved).        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 58B (Red-Purple). Lower surface:            RHS 58C (Red-Purple). Eye zone: RHS 61A (Red-Purple).-   Spur:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular and curved downward.        -   Color.—RHS 59D (Red-Purple).        -   Length.—5.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Number.—Two.        -   Color.—RHS 58D (Red-Purple).        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Caudate.        -   Base.—Subcordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Form: Fused; split into 4 lobes. Number: Many.            Filament length: 0.4 cm. Filament color: RHS 58B            (Red-Purple). Anther length: 0.4 cm. Anther color: RHS 155A            (White). Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: RHS 155D            (White). Pollen description: Powdery.        -   Pistil.—Number: 5. Stigma color: RHS 147A (Yellow-Green).            Style color: RHS 147A (Yellow-Green). Style length: 0.5 cm.        -   Ovary arrangement.—Parietal.        -   Ovary surface color.—RHS 147A (Yellow-Green).-   Fruit and seed set: No seed set observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘SAKIMP017’ is similar to the female parent ‘NC-177

’ and the male parent ‘NC-229B’, however, there are differences aslisted in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘SAKIMP017’ and parentalcultivars Male Parent Female Parent Characteristic ‘SAKIMP017’ ‘NC-229B’‘NC-177{circle around (1)}’ Flower color Deep Rose Magenta Bright OrangePlant growth habit Compact Vigorous Compact

‘SAKIMP017’ is similar to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘SAKIMP009’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,622); however, there are differences as listedin Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘SAKIMP017’ and‘SAKIMP009’ Characteristic ‘SAKIMP017’ ‘SAKIMP009’ Growth habit CompactCompact Petal color, upper RHS 58B (Red-Purple) RHS 52C (Red) surfaceSpur color RHS 59D (Red-Purple) RHS 52B (Red)

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant as shownand described herein.